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Committee approves amendment letting berry growers seek paraquat permits
Summary
On April 29, 2026, a legislative committee approved an amendment to H739 that would allow growers of USDA-listed berry crops, including strawberries, to seek permits for continued paraquat use; the amendment passed after committee discussion and a roll call.
A legislative committee voted April 29, 2026, to advance an amendment to H739 that would permit growers of crops in the USDA berry category, including strawberries, to seek permits for continued use of the herbicide paraquat while removing the bill's original purpose and study sections.
The presenter said the amendment strips the purpose and study portions of the House bill and inserts an authorized exception for any crop listed in the USDA berry category so growers could apply for continued paraquat use under a permitting process. Committee members described the final text as a compromise compared with possible alternatives that had been considered.
"It was a lot of compromise going on within the committee," the chair said after the vote, congratulating members for reaching agreement.
The committee recorded a roll call during the vote; named senators responding included Senator Colin, Senator Efron, Senator Major, Senator Plunk and Senator Engles. The chair reported the final tally as six yes votes. (One yes vote was not named on the recorded roll call in the transcript.)
The amendment was recorded as "favorable with amendment." The transcript does not show a subsequent floor action in this session; members indicated the sponsor would report the bill to the next stage.
What happens next: the sponsor will report the bill for consideration by the full chamber, and staff said they would prepare a clean copy of the amendment without the committee highlights for circulation.
